Informal lunch meeting for European States

On 5 July 2012, the Director of the IOPC Funds hosted an informal lunch meeting for the London-based representatives of European States.
17 guests representing 14 States attended the meeting which provided a valuable opportunity for both Member and non-Member States to visit the Secretariat and learn more about the work of the IOPC Funds and also for the Secretariat to establish and maintain valuable State contacts. The London-based representatives had the opportunity to ask questions and to exchange their views on various IOPC Fund-related matters.
In a welcoming statement the Director took the opportunity to refer to the 2010 HNS Protocol, to encourage States to work with the IOPC Funds and the IMO to bring the 2010 HNS Convention into force and to inform them of the HNS workshop which was planned, in cooperation with IMO, during November 2012. Attendees were reminded that the next set of meetings of the IOPC Funds governing bodies would take place from 15 to 19 October 2012.